blackbike wrote: ... if the Germans decide to have a fascist government again, and to elect fascist MEPs who have a say in making European laws including those on human rights, we Brits cannot get rid of those MEPs at any election at all. This is something to think about as much of the EU lurches to the right and the possibility of far right governments in the EU is not entirely improbable. ....
The convention on human rights was established as a direct result of the last time the Germans elected a fascist government and We British decided to establish some basic principles - human rights - and in due course a legal system was put in place to ensure the protection of those rights. Although this is European, it runs alongside other European institutions like the EU, not as part of them.
There have been occasions when the actions of the British Government or quasi-government organisations have been successfully challenged by people who felt their human rights had not been honoured.
It may seem infra dig for We British to be accused by foreigners of lapses in this area but taking our bat home - just on the grounds that they don't understand cricket - would really be beyond the pale.
If I had any concerns about the establishment of some sort of fascist government in Europe, I'd be looking nearer home.
pete75 posted as I was typing this